阅读经文 

在我们今天的经文中，使徒保罗说他本族的子民以色列人是一棵被神扎根和栽培的橄榄树，他向外邦人，也就是除了以色列人以外的其他民族的人说话。

我们都需要具体的画面来明白神在救赎的故事中和我们的关系，这段经文就像一片森林，有许多与树、枝条、根、汁液和嫁接有关的图画，帮助我们理解神的目的。虽然这一章在某些层面上相当有难度，但即使是对经文的基本解读，也可以看出神渴望接受挑战，将野生的枝条与栽培的根茎结合起来，这不是通常的做法。将栽培的枝条接在野生树根上是典型的做法，因为野生根茎通常更耐寒，而栽培的枝条通常能结出更多的果实。

但我们看到，这个过程反过来了，神有能力维持较弱的根茎，也会插上较弱的枝条，因着祂的仁慈和怜悯，仍会使树生机勃勃，果实累累。神不仅看顾强壮的、有能力的人，祂也表现出对弱小的、不可能的人选的偏爱。神甚至会把一根断裂的枝条再嫁接上去。

我们不知道神为什么选择以这样的方式聚集祂的子民，但对于我们所有感到软弱、残疾、被遗弃或不足的人来说，这段经文提供了深刻的盼望。神能够也愿意将我们纳入祂永不止息的爱的大故事中。

In our reading today, the apostle Paul is talking about his own people, Israel, as an olive tree rooted and cultivated by God, and he is speaking to Gentiles, people from all other nations besides Israel.

We all need tangible ways to picture what God is doing with us in the story of salvation, and this passage is like a forest of many images that relate to trees, branches, roots, sap, and grafting to help us understand God's purposes. Although this chapter is rather difficult on some levels, even a basic reading of the verses shows that God is eager to take on the challenge of integrating wild branches with a cultivated rootstock, which is not the usual practice. It's typical to attach a cultivated branch to the root of a wild tree, because a wild rootstock is usually more hardy and a cultivated branch usually produces more fruit.

But we can see that by reversing the process, God has the power to sustain the weaker root and will also insert weaker branches, which will still, because of his kindness and mercy, result in a vibrant, fruitful tree. God not only includes strong, able people, but he also shows a preference for weak and unlikely candidates. God will even go so far as to graft a broken branch in again.

We don't know why God chooses to gather his people this way, but for all of us who feel weak, disabled, left behind, or inadequate, this passage offers profound hope. God can and will include us in the big story of his never-ending love.